(31 March 2020 - NASA) NASA has awarded the Aerospace, Research, Development, and Engineering Support Services (ARDES) II contract to Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, to execute robotic space missions for the agency through the full mission life cycle, from mission concept and formulation through data analysis.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a minimum ordering value of $50 million, and a maximum ordering value for the base period of $1 billion. The maximum ordering value of the contract, inclusive of an option period, is $2 billion. The contract provides for placement of cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed price task orders. The contract was awarded with a five-year base period, which began March 30, and one five-year option period, which, if exercised, will begin on March 30, 2025.

Under the ARDES II contract, APL will maintain an essential research capability in space systems engineering, with supporting capabilities required to perform all aspects of robotic space missions as follows: engineering and science technology; systems test and evaluation; information technology; and simulation, modeling, and operations analysis.